Reach Out Sun Lakes continues to produce for Matthew’s Crossing

Ellen Engel

Usually in this space we report the results of each month’s food drive for the Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank in Chandler, but collections were not completed before the deadline date of the Splash this month, so we decided to skip the results and simply to review the process and its progress. We will report the complete August and September results in the October issue.

As for process: Matthew’s Crossing serves over 600 needy Chandler families, and any Sun Lakes residents may contribute at established pickup points sponsored by the Sun Lakes Duplicate Bridge Club and the Sun Lakes Democratic Club. Membership in these clubs is not a criterion. In fact, many individual donors show up at these two club-sponsored pickup points from all over Sun Lakes. The Bridge Club pickup takes place at the Risen Savior Lutheran Church on Alma School Road on the first Monday of each month from 12:30—1:20 p.m., and the Sun Lakes Democratic Club accepts contributions on the second Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Sun Lakes Country Club (SLCC).

For those who cannot make it to the formal pickup locations at specific times, a collection point is also open during normal business hours at the SLCC clubhouse for people who cannot make their drop-offs at the regular time(s).

And as for progress: Reach Out Sun Lakes, now well into its ninth year of service to The Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank, is actively seeking additional volunteers to spend several hours a month helping to handle collections at our donation locations and handling tasks related to delivery to the food bank, bookkeeping, etc. This need increases as our winter residents return in the fall.

The food bank itself, located at 1368 Arizona Avenue in Chandler, also needs volunteers on a regular basis. If you are interested in being of service, please call 480-857-2296 and join the many Sun Lakers who already donate time and effort at Matthew’s Crossing.

For further information, to arrange for your organization’s support of this worthwhile program or to volunteer as a collector, please contact Ellen Engel at 480-802-0425 or email [email protected].